CBI Strikes Major Blow to Transnational Cybercrime Syndicate in Operation Chakra-IV, Dismantles Virtual Asset-Driven Network Targeting Germans
(Judicial Quest News Network)
In a groundbreaking move under the ongoing Operation Chakra-IV, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has successfully dismantled an advanced cybercrime syndicate that used virtual assets to defraud German nationals. This operation was carried out in close collaboration with German authorities.
The CBI’s International Operations Division registered a case on 12.02.2025, targeting key figures Rahul Shaw, Shubham Sharma, Rajeev Budhiraja, and others, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. The investigation revealed that from 2021 to 2022, the accused masterminded a scheme to remotely access victims’ computer systems and bank accounts, offering fake tech support. They manipulated victims into transferring a total of €646,032 to cryptocurrency wallets under their control.
After the case was registered, CBI officials swiftly executed searches across multiple locations, uncovering crucial evidence linking the network to transnational cyber-enabled financial crimes. The operation, spanning Delhi, Kolkata, and Siliguri, unearthed an illegal call centre operated by the accused, which was used to further their fraudulent activities.
Rahul Shaw, a primary suspect, was arrested in Siliguri and presented before the court. Extensive evidence, including mobile phones, laptops, and incriminating documents, was seized from his residence, while digital evidence from hard drives recovered at the illegal call centre provided further proof of the network’s operations.
Ongoing investigations, both domestically and internationally, are aiming to trace the illicit gains and further dismantle the cybercriminal organization. Operation Chakra-IV is a testament to CBI’s commitment to tackling organized technology-driven crime networks through a global law enforcement collaboration, with assistance from INTERPOL and foreign authorities.
